The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office has posted the list of some 1,700 properties whose owners owe taxes. The Sheriff' Office said if the taxes aren't paid, the properties will be eligible for sale at the sheriff's annual tax sale on July 16.

During the tax sale, interested parties can bid on available properties and pay off the outstanding tax and associated fees. The winning bid becomes a lien on the property that the original owner has three years to pay off to regain the property, according to the Sheriff's Office's website.

The annual tax sale will be held at the St. Tammany Justice Center, 701 N. Columbia St., in Covington. It begins at 10 a.m. People wishing to bid on properties must first pre-register, the Sheriff's Office said.

The list of available properties has been posted on the sheriff's website and includes around 1,700 properties, the Sheriff's Office said in an email Tuesday (June 26). The list will be updated on July 11 to reflect any properties for which the taxes have since been paid, the Sheriff's Office said.

Delinquent property tax bills can be paid in person at the Justice Center or at the Sheriff's Office administrative complex at 300 Brown's Switch Road in Slidell. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Sheriff's Office advises anyone who owes property taxes not to wait to pay them. While the deadline to pay delinquent taxes is technically July 16, prior to the sale, the office gets very busy that day, Capt. Julie Teal of the sheriff's Property Tax Department, said in an email.

"Once we begin reading the properties for a certain taxing district in the sale, we are unable to accept tax payments for properties located in that district, even if you are waiting in line," she said.

Delinquent taxes and other fees must be paid by cash, certified check or money order, the Sheriff's Office said.